HSG47 is issued by the Health & Safety Executive and is entitled “Avoiding Danger From Underground Services”. That says it all really, because avoiding striking underground services when carrying out any sort of excavation work is critical. Virtually all of our utilities run underground, and if you hit one of them, the very least that is going to happen is that the work will come to a halt and there is going to be a cost to restoring them.
Others, such as electrical cables and gas pipes can cause serious injury and are, on occasion, fatal. There are estimated to be some 4 million excavations taking place every year in the UK, and of those, some 60,000 hit a service of one kind or another. This results in an average of around a dozen deaths each year. Those 60,000 cable strikes are only 1.5% of all contracts, but even so, just one cable strike is one too many.
Apart from the risk to contractors carrying out the work, there is also the cost of the damage to the utility. On top of that, there is also the collateral damage to businesses and residents that are affected. Strike a telecoms or fibreoptic cable and the businesses affected have no internet access, effectively closing them down until the system is restored.
Even striking a water pipe can cause injuries. If that water is under pressure, it can hurl stones and other material out of the ground. You don’t want to be standing in the way of that.
All of this is why HSG47 goes into considerable detail about how to avoid striking underground services. It explains the three basic elements of a safe system of work during excavation:
■ Planning the work
■ Locating and identifying buried services
■ Safe excavation
Planning the work will include obtaining all available STATS (plans) from utilities in the area in order to get an idea of where services run. Unfortunately, these cannot be relied upon, but they can be used to get an idea of what runs where.
Locating and identifying buried services is done using tools such as the CAT and Genny – Cable Avoidance Tool and Signal Generator. Operatives who are required to use these tools need special training so that they fully understand how to use them in all their modes, and also what limitations they have – and they do have certain limitations.
At Sygma Solutions we provide CAT training which will teach operatives everything that they need to know about the CAT and Genny. Our CAT training is carried out either in the classroom before going out on site or can be done online, as we set up interactive online classes as a result of Covid.
We can also include Proqual Level 3 Utility Mapping in our 5-day utility mapping course. The Proqual Level 3 Utility Mapping qualification entitles the holder to obtain a gold CSCS Card. This is becoming more and more of a requirement to work on many contracts, especially in places such as Heathrow Airport and any HS2 contract.
If the course you are looking for has no dates or you would like a course built for your company please contact
enquiries@sygma-solutions.com for current availability and booking form
Open Days
Please contact us about open days
PAS128 Utility Mapping Training Modules mapped to CICES competencies
– 2 days
Module 1 – Pas 128 Level D &C training to include level 3 assessment – CICES GEUS01 A-D
– 3 Days
Module 2 – PAS128 Level B Training – can include Level 4 assessment – CICES GUES01 E-I
Please contact enquires@sygma-solutions.com for future dates and a booking form
2 Day Advanced EM Course (RD8100/8200 & VIVAX)
In depth course covering electromagnetic locators, theory and intensive practical on our real world training site.
Cost: £295 per person
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
1 Day Mala GPR Module 1 – Theory & Practical
Cost: Contact us for price (2 spaces F.O.C. with Mala GPR Purchase)
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
1 Day Mala GPR Module 2 – Post processing
Cost: Contact us for price (2 spaces F.O.C. with Mala GPR Purchase)
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
2 Day GPR – All Manufacturers
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
5 Day TSA & ICES Approved 5 Day Utility Mapping Course
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates: Contact Us
Location: Worcester
Dates: Contact Us
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
1 Day Public Genny & CAT Course
Cost: £175 plus VAT
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
Dates:
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
Level 3 Utility Mapping Qualification – All Online
Cost: £275 PLUS REG FEE
Location: Online
Dates: To suit
Level 5 Diploma Utility Mapping Qualification – Online Workbooks – followed by assessment
Cost £1100 PLUS REG FEE
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre or your site
Dates: To suit
Open level 5 assessment dates at Sygma Solutions, Wigan
Level 5 Diploma Utility Mapping Qualification – in 5 days
Cost – contact us
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
2nd – 6th June 2025 Limited Availability
28th July – 1st August 2025 Limited Availability
Sygma PAS 128 Utility Surveyor Training Including Proqual Level 3 Utility Mapping and Surveying
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
28th April – 2nd May 2025 Limited Availability
12th – 16th May 2025 Limited Availability
14th – 18th July 2025 Limited Availability
11th – 15th August 2025
8th – 12th September 2025
29th September – 3rd October 2025
27th – 31st October 2025
24th – 28th November 2025
8th – 12th December 2025
Level 3 Utility Mapping and Surveying Public Course
Location: Sygma Solutions training centre, Wigan
28th – 29th April 2025 Limited Availability
12th – 13th May 2025 Limited Availability
14th – 15th July 2025 Limited Availability
11th – 12th August 2025
8th – 9th September 2025
29th – 20th September 2025
27th – 28th October 2025
24th – 25th November 2025
8th – 9th December 2025
GPS Course & Total Station Introduction
This is a 2 day dedicated GPS course with an introduction to Total Station
Please contact us for future dates and a booking form
Please contact enquires@sygma-solutions.com for future dates and a booking form
Please contact:
enquiries@sygma-solutions.com for current availability and booking form for any course